Parish OfficeThe Vigil Mass at St Wilfrid's
The Vigil Mass at St Wilfrid's
The Vigil Mass congregation began as a Jennyfield church plant. Judeo-Christian tradition celebrates the beginning of a major festival at sunset on the day before.
Sunday is the Lord's day – the day of Resurrection. Christians gather at the Lord's table to worship within the Church's eucharistic offering as commanded and enabled by Jesus.
At St Wilfrid's, as in churches everywhere, our Sunday begins with evening prayer on Saturday.
All Are Very Welcome!
The Vigil Mass is an ideal occasion to join in with worship, especially if you need to be elsewhere during the day on Sunday. You don't need to live locally to join us! We are a friendly and welcoming group and always glad to receive visitors and newcomers. The Liturgy is prayerful, relaxed and straightforward. Organ, piano and Taize-style music are all used.
There are opportunities for those who would like to read the Scriptures, lead prayers of intercession or serve. We have an active serving team of mainly young people. Perhaps you would simply like to take a quiet place and absorb the worship – all is fine.
Our Vigil Mass is good way to introduce children to a standard church service – we do not mind a little noise or children playing. Attendance normally varies between 20 and 40. We meet afterwards in the parish rooms for refreshments and the occasional party!
Story of Our Church Plant Community
For several years a missionary church plant congregation worshipped in the Saltergate Schools and then in the Styan Community Centre, both in the Jennyfield area of St Wilfrid's parish. With changing circumstances and needs, this worshipping community decided, after much consideration, to relocate the Saturday evening Mass up to St Wilfrid's church, continuing to engage in mission on the Jennyfield/Killinghall Moor estates in other ways. This is not necessarily a permanent arrangement and future venues for this community may well develop.
The services on Saturday at 6.00pm continues in the informal catholic style the plant had developed over the years, thus offering alternative eucharistic worship, particularly for families and younger people. A variety of musical styles is used. Although this is a distinct community within the parish, many tend to join the rest of the St Wilfrid's for major events. Furthermore, those who have occasional commitments on a Sunday morning often worship instead on Saturday evening.
Particular care for this community has customarily been devolved in the parish to the Team Vicar, who lives at Jennyfield, now Fr John.
A visiting preacher is normally featured once a month. Please check the diary pages for news of this.